5 Killed in Explosion at Residential Building in Netherlands

Five people were killed in an explosion at a three-story residential building in The Hague, Netherlands.

The blast, which triggered a massive fire, has left authorities scrambling to rescue survivors and investigate the cause.

Firefighters retrieved one survivor from the rubble late Saturday evening as search efforts persisted for others feared trapped.

Emergency services reported that four individuals sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital shortly after the incident occurred early Saturday morning.

Jan van Zanen, the Mayor of The Hague, expressed little hope of finding more survivors and described the situation as dire.

Rescue teams worked tirelessly overnight, but officials have not yet confirmed the number of people still missing. Initial estimates suggested that up to 20 individuals could be unaccounted for.

According to authorities, a minor explosion occurred at 6:15 a.m. local time, followed by a larger, more destructive blast that ignited the fire.

The force of the explosion caused a partial collapse of the building, destroying five apartments and leaving the area in ruins.

The cause of the explosions remains unclear. Authorities noted that a vehicle was seen speeding away from the site immediately after the blast.

Police have called on residents to provide any footage that might aid in identifying the vehicle or understanding the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The explosion in The Hague is part of a concerning trend in the Netherlands, where recent months have seen a spate of blasts and arson attacks targeting homes, businesses, and vehicles. While these incidents often result in property damage, fatalities, and severe injuries are rare.

Law enforcement officials believe these attacks are linked to disputes between drug trafficking gangs, acts of intimidation, or extortion efforts.